The raw milk debate: It’s not about choice, it’s about safety

A few times a week, I visit my daughter at daycare over my lunch break to see what her class is learning and to enjoy a few toddler snuggles before I go back to work.

Sometimes, I arrive when the kids are finishing up lunch. My daughter usually has a sippy cup of milk in her hands, with her head tipped back so she gets every last drop out of the cup.

Parents today have a lot of choices when it comes to the milk we buy for our growing families. I admit, I worry over every little decision when it comes to feeding my daughter, including whether I should switch her from whole milk to low-fat milk when she turns 2 in a few weeks.

Even more troubling, the raw milk-related illnesses tend to cause serious, life-threatening complications, particularly for young children.

While I’m sure raw milk advocates have good intentions, it’s important to take a look at the bigger picture. There’s a reason why the law requires milk pasteurization, just like it requires seat belts in cars.

Yes, it’s good to have choices in the food we eat, but not when those choices can harm people who don’t have a choice, like young children.